Helene in the media: The ripple effects of more visible women
Last week, I have been interviewed by the Spanish news agency EuroEFE for Euractiv on the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s ambition to achieve gender balance at the top of the European Commission in 2024-2029.
The full article can be found here and is in Spanish.
Here are the extracts of the article where I commented, translated to English:
“For Helene Banner, a women's leadership expert who in 2019 was part of the transition team that advised Von der Leyen before she became the first woman head of the European Commission, the issue of gender parity in the European executive is not merely a matter of image or a "men versus women" competition.
"Equal representation leads to better, more balanced and innovative decisions, and that is something we urgently need, given the challenges we face. Whether it's conflict resolution, the future of artificial intelligence or (EU) economic sustainability, these are issues that will require diverse ideas from different perspectives," Banner told EuroEFE
In her second term, Ms Von der Leyen has also promised to develop a "roadmap for women's rights" to curb gender-based violence, reconcile care and working life and "close the pay and pensions gap", as she announced in her July speech to the European Parliament.
On the other hand, Banner recalled, the representation of women in positions of power has clear repercussions on society and the economy.
“When we 'normalise' to hear more diverse voices in decision-making, so many more people feel represented and empowered to show up in their full potential, too."
Thank you EuroEFE for your media request.
Let’s tap into that potential when more women are represented!
Would you like me to share perspectives on female leadership, diversity and women in power on your panel, at your live event this year? Let us together inspire a new generation of leaders. I still have spaces available in 2024 to travel to your conference as your inspiring Keynote Speaker, to be your event moderator or to host a Women Leadership Training at your organisation.